Thanks Rabbi Feinberg

Letters

Editor: I am writing this letter to commend Rabbi Charles Feinberg on the brave, courageous sermon he delivered at Beth Israel Synagogue on Yom Kippur. I am not a member of this synagogue, but my best friend gave me her ticket and insisted that I go to hear this sermon. I am so glad that I did, his words moved me to tears as I have never felt so validated for who I am in the Jewish community.

My parents and grandparents have always been members of BI, while I joined Or Shalom because it is the only Jewish spiritual community in the city that has welcomed me, my partner of 18 years, Sarah, and our two children.

As a Jewish lesbian, I have never felt that my identity or my family have been embraced by another congregation. It is not that the rabbi and members have shunned us, it is just that we have never felt celebrated for who we are.

To be embraced and welcomed is to have a rabbi stand in front of his congregation and say to his membership, we must not only tolerate gays and lesbians in our community, but we should encourage them to take on leadership roles.

Rabbi Feinberg asked us to ask ourselves, if Judaism is about family, don't we all have gays and lesbians in our families? Family loyalty and commitment are fundamental values in our religion. I hope that the BI congregation will take a leading role in validating same-sex relationships and choose to perform same-sex marriages for those who want them.

Thanks Rabbi Feinberg for your leadership, words of tolerance and love. They will stay in my heart for a long time to come. I hope that your congregation is proud of you. Your courage and commitment to include and welcome everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, is truly inspiring.

Tamara Adilman
Vancouver

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